Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'deserve'

English Word: deserve

Key Russian Translations:

• заслуживать (/zəsˈlʊʐɨvətʲ/) - [Formal, Verb; Used in contexts involving merit or worthiness]

Frequency: Medium (This verb is commonly used in everyday Russian, especially in discussions, literature, and formal writing, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs like "быть" (to be)).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; Learners at this level should grasp its conjugation and usage, though irregular aspects may challenge beginners. If multiple translations exist, each might vary, but for "заслуживать", it's consistently B1.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

заслуживать: /zəsˈlʊʐɨvətʲ/

Note on заслужива́ть: The stress falls on the second syllable ("slu"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft "zh" sound (/ʐ/). Pronunciation may vary slightly in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To be worthy of something, such as reward, punishment, or treatment based on one's actions.

Translation(s) & Context:

• заслуживать - Used in formal and informal contexts to express that someone has earned something through their behavior or efforts (e.g., in ethical discussions, work evaluations, or personal reflections).

Usage Examples:

• Он заслуживает повышения за свою усердную работу.

  He deserves a promotion for his diligent work.

• Эта команда заслуживает победы после всех усилий.

  This team deserves a victory after all their efforts.

• Дети заслуживают лучшего образования, чем то, что им предоставляется.

  Children deserve a better education than what is provided to them.

• Она заслуживает извинений за несправедливое обвинение.

  She deserves an apology for the unfair accusation.

• Этот фильм заслуживает внимания критиков из-за своей оригинальности.

  This film deserves the attention of critics due to its originality.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"заслуживать" is a first-conjugation verb in Russian, which means it follows regular patterns but has some irregularities in aspect and tense. It is imperfective; the perfective form is "заслужить". Below is a table outlining key inflections:

Note: This verb does not change based on gender in the infinitive form but does in the past tense. It is regular in most aspects but requires attention to aspect pairs for correct usage.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • достойный (dostoynyy) - More adjective form, meaning "worthy"; subtle difference in implying inherent quality.
  • полагаться (polagat'sya) - In contexts of expectation or entitlement, but less direct.
• Antonyms:
  • не заслуживать (ne zasluzhivat') - Directly negates the idea.
  • недостойный (nedostoynyy) - Meaning "unworthy", used as an adjective.

Related Phrases:

• Заслужить уважение - To earn respect; Used in professional or social contexts to highlight achievement.
• Заслуживать доверия - To deserve trust; Common in interpersonal relationships or business.
• Не заслуживает внимания - Does not deserve attention; A phrase for dismissing something trivial.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, "заслуживать" directly corresponds to "deserve" in English but emphasizes the moral or ethical justification behind it. It is versatile across formal and informal settings, but in casual speech, Russians might use it more emphatically. When choosing between "заслуживать" and synonyms like "достойный", opt for the verb form when describing actions or processes. Be mindful of aspect: use the imperfective for ongoing states and perfective for completed actions. For English learners, remember that Russian verbs often require agreement with subject gender in the past tense.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "заслуживать" without proper aspect, e.g., saying "Я заслуживать приз" instead of "Я заслуживаю приз" for present tense.

  Correct: Я заслуживаю приз. (Explanation: "заслуживать" must be conjugated correctly; the infinitive form is not used as a standalone verb in sentences.)

• Error: Confusing it with "достичь" (to achieve), leading to misuse like "Он заслуживает цель" instead of "Он заслуживает награды".

  Correct: Он заслуживает награды. (Explanation: "заслуживать" focuses on worthiness, not accomplishment; use "достичь" for reaching goals.)

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like "заслуживать" often tie into themes of fairness and collective effort, influenced by historical contexts such as Soviet-era emphasis on merit in work. For instance, in literature like Dostoevsky's works, deserving reward or punishment reflects deep moral introspection, helping English speakers appreciate the philosophical undertones in everyday language.

Related Concepts:

• достойный
• заслуга
• вознаграждение